Post by Ancalagon on Dec 12, 2017 7:35:17 GMT
"We looked into the vast expanse of space, hope in the Greater Good in our hearts, and saw only darkness. What we never realized was that the darkness was staring back." - attributed to unknown Tau Earth Caste scientist, expired in Inquisitorial holding cell.
Specimen 4267A90D
Hive Fleet: Ancalagon
Imperial Designation: Commander-beast. Swarmlord.
Tau Lexicon: Oobi'tlai
Translation: "The Undying King"
As the currents of the Cicatrix Maledictum swept carnage and chaos in its wake, entire swathes of Imperial territory were cut off from support and communication. As the Imperium teetered on the brink of destruction, the opportunistic Tau quickly took advantage of its reeling foe. Biting deep into the flank of their great enemy, the cunning xenos tore entire sectors away from the grasp of ailing humanity. Argos was one such sector. Formerly in firm control by the Imperium, the warp storms brought by the Cicatrix Maledictum effectively severed any Imperial reinforcements from arriving by decades. With nowhere else to turn to, planetary governors one by one bent the knee to Tau emissaries and heeded the false promises of their Greater Good. For a while, the xenos brought stability and prosperity to the worlds of Argos. As generation after generation of humans drank from the poisoned chalice of luxury, they began to forget about their glorious past and partook in the traditions and teachings of the Tau. They believed that they were safe, secure, and provided for by their new alien overlords.
And then came the darkness. And then came death. And then came Ancalagon.
The immense specimen known as The Undying King was a Swarmlord of unusual intelligence and cunning. While all Swarmlords are bred to lead the countless swarms that consist of the Hive Fleet's minions, the Swarmlord of Ancalagon was a particular vicious creature that seemed to delight in outwitting its opponents. Whether outmaneuvering Tau armored columns or smashing through entire squads of elite battlesuits, the Swarmlord of Ancalagon was bestial cunning distilled into a single terrifying form.
First recorded in battle on the outpost world of Kathandar IV, The Undying King led a rapid assault against fortifications held by an entire Tau cadre and their human auxiliaries. The fortifications themselves consisted of massive Tidewall Ramparts and were festooned with automated drone sentry turrets and tank-killing rail cannons. An Imperial assault would have taken weeks to batter down the walls and would have taken extreme casualties in doing so. The Undying King and a swarm of its chittering kin broke down the first gate in fifteen minutes. Only an inspired defense led by Commander Brightsword managed to prevent the entire garrison from being overwhelmed. Shouting orders and bolstering morale, the famed and veteran commander directed his men into a second line of defense ringing the fortresses' inner keep. Hope blossomed and then was swiftly cut short when the Swarmlord broke through Brightsword's contingent of XV8 bodyguards and hacked the brave commander into pieces.
Ever since that day, the protégés of Brightsword have a sworn an oath of vengeance against the creature that had so ruthlessly slaughtered their beloved master. It is an oath that has thus far, been unfulfilled. All commanders seeking to avenge Brightsword's death have been similarly cut down, laid low by the Swarmlord's merciless bone sabers. And thus did The Undying King earn its name.
As Hive Fleet Ancalagon slowly amasses more and more biomass from their consumption of Sector Argos, far larger and deadlier beasts than the Swarmlord have appeared. Yet, all these organisms pale in comparison to the threat The Undying King poses. Wherever the great Hive Tyrant strides, enemy lines collapse and friendly swarms surge on anew. Whole cities tremble and frightened populations whisper psalms to the Greater Good. For to stare into the sinister eyes of Ancalagon's greatest general is to stare into the gaze of an alien mind so otherworldly incomprehensible, that only madness awaits. More than that, it is to stare into the eyes of death itself.
Specimen 4267A90D
Hive Fleet: Ancalagon
Imperial Designation: Commander-beast. Swarmlord.
Tau Lexicon: Oobi'tlai
Translation: "The Undying King"
As the currents of the Cicatrix Maledictum swept carnage and chaos in its wake, entire swathes of Imperial territory were cut off from support and communication. As the Imperium teetered on the brink of destruction, the opportunistic Tau quickly took advantage of its reeling foe. Biting deep into the flank of their great enemy, the cunning xenos tore entire sectors away from the grasp of ailing humanity. Argos was one such sector. Formerly in firm control by the Imperium, the warp storms brought by the Cicatrix Maledictum effectively severed any Imperial reinforcements from arriving by decades. With nowhere else to turn to, planetary governors one by one bent the knee to Tau emissaries and heeded the false promises of their Greater Good. For a while, the xenos brought stability and prosperity to the worlds of Argos. As generation after generation of humans drank from the poisoned chalice of luxury, they began to forget about their glorious past and partook in the traditions and teachings of the Tau. They believed that they were safe, secure, and provided for by their new alien overlords.
And then came the darkness. And then came death. And then came Ancalagon.
The immense specimen known as The Undying King was a Swarmlord of unusual intelligence and cunning. While all Swarmlords are bred to lead the countless swarms that consist of the Hive Fleet's minions, the Swarmlord of Ancalagon was a particular vicious creature that seemed to delight in outwitting its opponents. Whether outmaneuvering Tau armored columns or smashing through entire squads of elite battlesuits, the Swarmlord of Ancalagon was bestial cunning distilled into a single terrifying form.
First recorded in battle on the outpost world of Kathandar IV, The Undying King led a rapid assault against fortifications held by an entire Tau cadre and their human auxiliaries. The fortifications themselves consisted of massive Tidewall Ramparts and were festooned with automated drone sentry turrets and tank-killing rail cannons. An Imperial assault would have taken weeks to batter down the walls and would have taken extreme casualties in doing so. The Undying King and a swarm of its chittering kin broke down the first gate in fifteen minutes. Only an inspired defense led by Commander Brightsword managed to prevent the entire garrison from being overwhelmed. Shouting orders and bolstering morale, the famed and veteran commander directed his men into a second line of defense ringing the fortresses' inner keep. Hope blossomed and then was swiftly cut short when the Swarmlord broke through Brightsword's contingent of XV8 bodyguards and hacked the brave commander into pieces.
Ever since that day, the protégés of Brightsword have a sworn an oath of vengeance against the creature that had so ruthlessly slaughtered their beloved master. It is an oath that has thus far, been unfulfilled. All commanders seeking to avenge Brightsword's death have been similarly cut down, laid low by the Swarmlord's merciless bone sabers. And thus did The Undying King earn its name.
As Hive Fleet Ancalagon slowly amasses more and more biomass from their consumption of Sector Argos, far larger and deadlier beasts than the Swarmlord have appeared. Yet, all these organisms pale in comparison to the threat The Undying King poses. Wherever the great Hive Tyrant strides, enemy lines collapse and friendly swarms surge on anew. Whole cities tremble and frightened populations whisper psalms to the Greater Good. For to stare into the sinister eyes of Ancalagon's greatest general is to stare into the gaze of an alien mind so otherworldly incomprehensible, that only madness awaits. More than that, it is to stare into the eyes of death itself.
